Kane strives to be more like Penguins’ Crosby
Not too long ago, Patrick Kane was challenging Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby for the NHL scoring lead.
Just like that, it seems, Kane is 12 points behind the Penguins’ star center.
While Kane snapped one drought Sunday by scoring in the shootout in the Blackhawks’ 3-2 win over Boston, it was his 10th game without a goal. He had been 0-for-9 in shootouts.
Finding that consistency like Crosby has is what Kane wants.
“I want to get better,” Kane said. “I want to improve and get back to the level I was at a little bit before.
“(Crosby) produces every night. He’s fun to watch. Even on nights where he maybe doesn’t have his best game he still comes out of there with 2 assists or a goal and an assist.
“Then there are games where it seems like he’s determined, and he’s best player in the world and just dominates the game. You’re like, ‘Wow, this guy is amazing.’”
So what’s it going to take to get to Crosby’s level?
“The thing is (being) consistent,” Kane said. “That’s the biggest thing about it. To do that for 82 games is where he’s at and I’m not, I guess. Consistency is the biggest thing just to keep that chugging along the whole year. I was real hot and right there with him and then he kind of continues and keeps trotting on.”
Despite Kane’s 10-game goal drought, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville is happy with his star’s play.
“I like that line,” Quenneville said of Kane, Andrew Shaw and Brandon Saad. “They have a lot of zone time, and I think everybody would like to score. (Kane) had some points recently, had a couple games there where he didn’t get the production, but he’s still getting the looks and the opportunities as a line.
“The first 40-something games he was pretty amazing. It’s hard to do what he was doing game in game out, being productive and playing that well. It seemed like he had the puck on his stick the majority of his shifts. He’s still having a real good year for us.”
Toews honored:Jonathan Toews was named an alternate captain for the Olympics by Team Canada on Sunday. Toews and Nashville defenseman Shea Weber will assist captain Sidney Crosby.#147;It#146;s pretty cool. It#146;s a pretty huge honor,#148; Toews said.#147;Sidney, Jonathan and Shea have been leaders on the international stage in the past, as well as with their NHL teams,#148; Canada coach Mike Babcock said. #147;These three players will be at the forefront of our efforts in Sochi, but we are confident we have 25 players on our roster that will lead in their own way and allow our team to have success.#148;Creeping up:With Sunday#146;s win, Joel Quenneville tied Dick Irvin for third place on the NHL#146;s all-time coaching wins list at 692. All that#146;s ahead after Irvin are Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour.